Apple Launches Least Expensive iPhone; Preorders Begin Friday

Apple dropped under $400 for its latest iPhone introduction Wednesday, a $399 model (64 GB) that replaces the iPhone 8 in the company’s smartphone lineup. The most affordable phone in the Apple portfolio, available for preorder Friday, comes when customers can expect little hand-holding while upgrading phones. Apple stores are temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Best Buy, Apple’s largest authorized service provider, is selling product online, with stores providing only curbside pickup and no in-store sales assistance. Verizon's website urges customers to shop online and go to stores only for “appointment-only critical technical support.” The Verge called the latest SE “essentially an iPhone 8 with a better camera and processor." The 4.7-inch SE -- available in black, white and red bodies -- has the A13 Bionic chip that’s in the flagship iPhone 11 and 11 Pro models, said Apple. The Retina HD display supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 playback, and the phone has a home button like on previous-generation iPhones with a steel ring to detect fingerprints for Touch ID. The SE has a single-camera design with a 12-megapixel f/1.8 aperture lens and 4K video support; the selfie camera is 7 megapixels. Buyers get a free year of Apple TV Plus.